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Post by sarah on Jul 12, 2016 14:14:37 GMT -5
Can these be grown in a regular apartment setting with some supplemental lighting? Or do they have to have a terrarium with temp and humidity control? I'm in south Ontario. Are there maybe hardier species that don't mind suboptimal conditions as much?
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Post by porcorosso on Jul 12, 2016 15:08:38 GMT -5
Hi, I have had a baby Helia growing in my windowsill for a year now and it is doing great. Lots of new growth and slowly getting bigger. It Was absolutely tiny when I got it, not even any traps yet. Now It has many traps and looks like a helia. I keep it in a small saucer which I flood through top watering every few days or so. I live in South west BC. Just North of Vancouver. My current window faces west-ish.
Oh, It is a hetorodexa,
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Post by lloyd on Jul 12, 2016 15:11:21 GMT -5
Vancouver has much higher winter humidity than say Toronto. A good mist twice daily would help.
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Post by amanitovirosa on Jul 12, 2016 15:46:03 GMT -5
...in my humble opinion, in order to grow Heliamphora successfully you have to put in some dirty work. High humidity, temp drop at night etc, etc. Ask Maiden, I don't think he grows his on his windowsill. All due respect to you Porcorosso! Unless you're Brad or Snapperhead, prepare something. I have some babies I would be willing to part with to get you started. That gives you just over two weeks. See you at the meet! Happy Growing!
AV.
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Post by cory on Jul 12, 2016 15:58:10 GMT -5
I wouldn't grow them outside of a high humidity cool environment
I tried growing a minor here 2x in a windowsill and killed them both after a few months time
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Post by sarah on Jul 12, 2016 17:11:07 GMT -5
Thanks for the input everyone. I'm just thinking ahead right now. I'm sure one of these days I'll move on to the more complicated setups but I'm definitely not ready for it yet. There's something about Helis that just speak to me, they're gorgeous and exotic and I'd love to be able to grow one. But it sounds like it's just not feasible at the moment. I mean... I don't even have AC for myself yet, there's no way I'm going to set up AC for my plants. In the summer I have high temps and high humidity, and in the winter I have perfect temps but non-existing humidity. It's practically bone dry in here. I'd have to sit beside the plant 24/7 to mist it enough, though a dome or something might help? AV, I'm super impressed by Maiden's plants! If I were to amass a $1500 collection of plants, I'd be more devoted to their care and equipment, too But I'm confused, who are Brad and Snapperhead? What am I preparing that they shouldn't?
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Post by porcorosso on Jul 12, 2016 17:25:55 GMT -5
No offense taken. But I do believe windowsills are a viable option.
I am sure Maiden doesn't grow on a window sill either. But a Helia that is growing larger and making new pitchers all the time is a the sign of a happy and healthy plant. Living in beautiful Squamish must make them happy ;)
Not all of us have the space to dedicate for full terrariums or grow rooms, and we can still manage to grow things. I have been growing CP's successfully in homemade bogs and in windowsills for just over 30 years now.
My Nepenthes also live in a flood tray just next to the windowsill ( as do all my indoor plants, some in glass vases/ mini terrariums) and produce giant traps all the time. Sometimes I supplement the light in the winter with a lamp.
My Truncata produces traps over 30 cm's now and are consistently getting bigger. My Lady Pauline talen maxi cross has traps over 12 cm's
West coast Windowsills are underrated ;)
edit: ( no offense is meant to anyone with this post, this is just how I grow my plants. I am not saying this is ideal or that everyone should do this, but that it is most certainly possible :) )
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Post by lloyd on Jul 12, 2016 19:58:54 GMT -5
I have some big Mexipings from A/V and they did fine in the room all winter with humidity ~ 20%. Misting each night. So who knows? Try whatever you can, preferably with cheaper plants.
Post your results so we can all try new ideas.
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Post by RuBisCO on Jul 12, 2016 20:39:26 GMT -5
I'm hopefull myself of success with simplicity (for now) - I think there are examples of overcomplication with less bang for the buck. There are lots of accounts of varying techniques with varying success and what some felt were necessity were not so. Certainly for a plant to 'blossom' so-to-speak, it may require specialized care, but for it to survive and be 'moderately happy' - not die and slowly grow - it may tolerate more 'moderate' conditions. I hope that for my various specimins that with some stable light and water they will be happy. I will not be feeding my Deosera seedlings when they are less than 1.5mm across any longer as I am certain they don't like that. Fingers crossed for growing success!
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Post by sarah on Jul 12, 2016 21:44:15 GMT -5
lloyd: I have a few Mexipings, and a few drosera. I'm hoping I can bring them through my first winter with CPs without any losses. They are supposed to be fairly tolerant, and even if they die back a bit during winter sulkies, hopefully most of them will come back with spring. From what I hear though, Helis are gonna be a lot more picky. Porcorosso: You are so lucky to live in a great place for plants I'm jealous of all you west coasters with your mild winters and abundant seafood. Though the latter has nothing to do with plant cultivation RuBisCO: I'm hoping there's a heliamphora cultivar out there that's more tolerant of low humidity, undependable lighting, and wildly varying temperatures. I mean if humans can get from wolves to chihuahuas, with time surely we can we can breed a plant that will take whatever a fledgling enthusiast can throw at it.
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Post by amanitovirosa on Jul 12, 2016 21:51:52 GMT -5
...Brad is a guy on the West Coast that grows some amazing Heliamphora in a highland greenhouse set up. Snapperhead is a gentleman from Australia that is somehow able to grow flourishing Heliamphora in 50 degree Celcius! Both are members here, although John hasn't been around for a bit. Cheers!
AV.
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Post by porcorosso on Jul 13, 2016 2:06:52 GMT -5
Porcorosso: You are so lucky to live in a great place for plants :) I'm jealous of all you west coasters with your mild winters and abundant seafood. Though the latter has nothing to do with plant cultivation :P Yip, we coastal folk are pretty fortunate :) My Truncata even flowered this year :) The seafood out here is pretty good..... now that you mention it...
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Post by briar on Jul 13, 2016 10:45:01 GMT -5
Carl, one of the moderators of cpuk forum grows a couple varieties on his windowsill. Zuzana of Terraforums grows H. minor on her patio in San Diego where her temps are high and humidity in single digits much of the time.
So yeah, it can be done... but the examples of failure far out number successes.
Zu's low humidity probably helps keep the plant cool through increased evaporation and transporation, but that is only an assumption.
temperature more than humidity is the issue imho.
btw, I have helis growing with no supplemental cooling or humidification. Just sitting on an open rack in my basement. None of my helis have ever been given a significant diurnal temperature variation and at any one time I probably have 40+ specimens
Helis are weeds if you get close to matching their needs, but what works for one may not work for the next grower. You need give it a try and figure out what will work for you based on your individual conditions and routines.
Most successful growers have killed their share of plants :-)
Av
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Post by sarah on Jul 13, 2016 13:04:20 GMT -5
Thank you briar, this gives me hope. Maybe I will give them a try at some point. Which species or cross do you think would be a good place to start?
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Post by briar on Jul 13, 2016 14:11:31 GMT -5
Just about any hybrid is going to be easier to grow. IMHO, many of the heterodoxa crosses are easy and common starter plants in the genus. However, if you can find a Nutans Giant or Tequila (red) you get both hybrid vigor and some really good looks. Come on in, the water is fine They are not that hard.... bigger divisions are way easier than smaller divisions
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